Leaderboard

I really don't think eating too fast is really going to be much of an issue for your (at least not as much as you think). During the first few weeks/months post op, you'll eat slowly--because if you don't you're feel like total crap and puke. Maybe you'll do that once or twice and you'll change your behavior to avoid the consequences. Later on--after you heal--and are able to eat normal food, eating fast won't cause you to feel sick--then it's the same as it is now. You need to change your behavior so you can recognize when you're full and not eat so quickly that your brain doesn't have time to register what's going on in your stomach. This is just something that takes practice. If you're a fast eater, it's also something you may screw up from time to time. You'll be ok though. You need to follow the rules, but if you screw up a few every now and then--no biggie. It's only when you ignore them altogether that you will have significant problems.

This is one of those things that I still struggle with. It burned me, though. I was rushing trying to get out the door the other day and just crammed some turkey lunch meat down my stupid throat and ran out the door. I thought I was going to die right there on my front lawn. I was actually scared and thought I should try to make myself throw up. Long story short, I'm 3 months post-op and I still haven't figured out how to slow it down, I spent the first 4 decades of my life speed eating garbage that it's really hard to break this habit, even with healthy food. My advice would be to really make an effort, when you're just out of surgery up until 2 or 3 months out, your body will force you to slow down.

I like this topic. Surgery approaching June 12th. I know I am making the right decision but still having a lot of anxiety. As someone else said it would be irrational NOT to have anxiety before surgery.

Hello everyone. So I started the process back in March, and I have my last insurance mandated appointment with my surgeon August 1st. The time has flown by faster than I thought it would, and it's really starting to sink in. If all goes well and my surgery is approved, I'm looking to be sleeved early to mid September. I know it's normal to be anxious before any type of surgery, but I'm feeling completely consumed by fear. I'm afraid not only of the recovery, but I'm also afraid I may regret the surgery all together. Any words of comfort and/or wisdom would be more than appreciated. Thanks everyone.

do you all wish you had a hospital bed at home following the surgery?

I thought that might be the case. Try going back to focusing on protein and cut out sliders. Go and see your surgeon and discuss with him/her how to proceed. You may need a fill or infill. I had the same issues and was told by my surgeon that he didn’t think I would be able to get my band to “ work” again. Apparently they have discovered that they have a limited lifespan and after a while they cause serious issues like oesophageal failure. I was suffering bad reflux with a limited amount of fill but was still hungry and putting on weight. I revised to RNY in Jan and am very happy. I have lost all my excess weight and my diet is now far healthier than with the band.

If your past tries to call, don't answer. It has nothing new to say.

I didn't have any problems sleeping in my regular bed when I got home

I wanted to check in and post my experience. I was miserable during the pre-op phase diet, I cheated with last meals almost once a day until the 3 day water fast which I adhered to. The last 3 days were honestly not that bad, just uncomfortable because of being hungry. My angelic wife was supportive and did the pre-op diet with me :). The surgical procedure was fast, I struggled with some moderate pain, gas pain from the CO2 belly inflate. I am anti narcotic and needed it for a long drive home (9 hrs), I don’t recommend that! That said I used the oxy suspension to sleep for the first 2 days and it will be in the trash this week. I am type 2 diabetic, I lost 2 meds post surgery and now I am only on metformin, Prilosec, vitamins and Prozac. The after surgical effects are what you would expect: needed some time to pee normally, it took some days to pass gas but now it’s flowing better (taking a stool softener), hurts to sit up and lay flat, driving is a chore, mild stomach cramping, and skin pain at the 4 surgical sites (mainly the 15cm one). I have met the water goals post surgery and pushed it once and almost puked. I don’t recommend that, I am tolerating broth, clear protein drinks, sugar free jello we’ll just struggling with my behavioral issues to want to eat crap food. I do not feel hungry most of the time, unless food commercials are on TV or I walk in a store. I have lost a tremendous amount of weight so far (around 12 lbs so far), and suspect I will be in the 230’s tomorrow. I exercised prior to the surgery by doing P90X to build as mush muscle as I could. I think that helped a lot. I have been walking a lot also and try to get up each hour to walk around the house. My recovery has been very fast, each day it seems like it’s 50% better, I can sleep on my side now with a bit of left shoulder pain that’s is getting better. I watched my wife eat last night, and I was surprised that it did not bother me. Here are some neat things I think about: I will be a normal weight again (185), it will be nice to fly in a small seat, maybe I can get off all my meds, I will not be pre-judged in job situations for being morbidly obese, I might live as long as my wife to enjoy our life together, no 3 xl clothes, hopefully my chronic back pain will lessen.

I started this process in late January. I was scheduled to meet with the surgeon right away and I really liked him. After speaking with him I talked to the Coordinator, also very nice and assuring. I kept hearing, "Call us if you have ANY questions or concerns." Admittedly I am too easygoing and didn't want to seem impatient so I waited. And waited. Three weeks later I called the number I was given for the Coordinator. First off there was a LONG intro message that kept repeating that the process takes time because of the insurance company, patience is required, don't keep calling about a surgery date, and please expect 3-4 days for a call back - is this normal? Anyway, admittedly this made me very uncomfortable because of my personality... I hate confrontation and didn't want to be annoying (I know that is ridiculous since that is there job, but I'm being honest.) I did leave a message but no one called me back in the 3-4 date range. When I finally did get a call it was a reminder of my surgery date for the following week and I knew that was wrong because I hadn't even been scheduled for the required appointments yet. The caller apologized when I told him this and we both knew I had been confused with another patient. No wonder I wasn't being called to schedule appointments. I wasn't sure what to do so I found the email where I was first contacted about my interest in the program so I replied to it and explained my situation. I received a prompt reply saying they were sorry and that my email had been forwarded to the Coordinator. Still no call, but I did get calls from providers to schedule my other appointments. I finished up all of my requirements in mid May and I sent another email which was forwarded to the Coordinator and left a voicemail and still no calls. It's so frustrating and I'm starting to worry because I've spent so much money toward my deductible and if I don't have the surgery this year I don't know if I'll be able to afford to have it. I know I could find another surgeon at a different facility but how complicated is it to switch this late in the game? And it sucks because I really liked the surgeon. I'm just not sure what to do. I feel like if I call and leave a message for the surgeon he would make sure they submit my paperwork (I don't think they have because on the Cigna site there are no pending authorizations for me), but would I be stupid not to switch given the experience I've had? Surely this can't be normal. It blows my mind that they didn't call after finding out about the mix up to reassure me that everything was okay. And you'd think they would make sure that they stayed on top of my case to make up for the mistake. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.